Beet-topping machine



Nov. 15, 1927.

A. J. SCRITCHFIELD BEET TOPPING MACHINE [I] Ul Filed OC'l 5, 1925 Patented Nov. 15,1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

AMOS J. SCBITCEFIELD, 0F WEISER, IDAHO, ASBIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'lIO IRA F. Q

' REBMEN, OF BOISE, IDAHO.

' BEET-TOPPING MACHINE.

Application filed october 3, 1925. Salem. 60,267.

This invention relates to beet topping machines, and has for one of its ob ects the provision of a machine of this character which'shall include a shoe adapted to carry the topping knife and adapted to travel over and in contact with the beet tops so as to maintain the knife in position to efiect the severing of the beet tops under any and all conditions. a

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character stated wherein the shoe shall be mounted for vertical movement and for movementabout a horizontal axis so as to enable it to maintain the knife in position for severing large and small beet tops. 7

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character stated which shall include novel and simple means for'maintainin the shoe and knife in resilient contact with the beet tops.

A further object of the invention is the a provision of a machine of the character stated wherein the topping knife shall be adjustable with respect to the underside of the shoe and which shall include novel and simple means by which the topping knife may be readily adjusted from the seat of the machine.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character set forth which shall vinclude novel and simple means through the medium of which the shoe and knife may be readily raised and supported out of contact with the ground orreadily lowered into operative position.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a beet topping machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the vertical planes indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following descr1ption, and desig-.

nated i'n the several views of the accompanying drawing, by simllar reference characters. The machine comprises a frame including runners 2 which are connected together by.

a front crossbar 3 and rear cross bar 4. The lower sides of the front end portions of the runners 2 are inclined upwardly and forwardly as indicated at 5.- The front cross bar 3 is provided in its under side with an "arcuate recess 6 to prevent it from contact- 7 mg with the tops of the beets. A clevis 7 is pivsoted to the front ends of the runners 2 as a Draft bars 9 are pivoted to and between the runners 2 as at 10. They extend rearwardly from their pivots and are provided at their rear ends with a. shaft 11 which extends transversely of the machine and on which a shoe 12 is pivotally mounted. The front portions of the drag bars 9 are arranged in a rearwardly converging relation, and the rear portions thereof are arranged in substantially parallel relation. The shoe 12 is of arcuate formation and extends longitudinally of the machine. In its lateral sides, the shoe 12 is provided with grooves 13 for the reception ofthe rear portions of the drag bars 9, such drag-bar portions being adaptedto limit the rocking movement of the shoe in a forward and downward direction on the shaft 11. Arms 14 are pivoted as at 15 to the vertical sides of the shoe 12, and are provided with downwardly offset and rearwardly extending end portions 16. A blade 17 is secured to the arm portions 16, is arranged transversely with respect to the shoe 12, and is greater in length than the width of the shoe. A screw 18 swiveled to the shoe 12 and provided with a hand wheel 19, and a yoke 20'pivotedcas at 21 to the arms 14 and having threaded engagement with the screw, provide means by which the blade or cutter 17 can be adjusted vertically with respect to the shoe.

'A vertical rod 22'has its lower end piv oted as at 23 to the shoe 12 forwardly beshoe 12. A spring 31 surrounding the rod side for contact with the upper side of the v 22 and positioned between, the guide member 25 and head yieldingly holds the shoe 12 in contact with the ground and beet tops. A U-shaped s 0 t 30 is secured to therunners 2 in advan e of the guide 26, and secured to the horizontal member 31 thereof is a pair of lugs 32 to and between which is pivoted as at 33the front end of a lever 34. The bar 22 is provided with a vertically dis posed elongated slot 35, and the lever 34 is provided with a longitudinally extending elongated slot 36. A pin 37 passing through the slots 35 and 36 connects the rod 22 to the lever 34, and said lever is adapted to be employed to raise and support the shoe 12 out of contact with the ground. A notched bar 38 and a latch 39 are adapted to secure the lever 34 against casual movement, the bar being secured to the horizontal member 25 of thesupport 26 and the latch being carried by the lever.

To prevent thesevered beet tops from accumulating on the cutter 17, a spiked wheel 40 is provided. The spiked wheel is fixed to a shaft 41 journaled in the runners 2 and provided with ground contacting wheels 42.

Swee s 43 are pivoted as at44 to the runners 2 orwardly beyond the shoe 12. The sweeps 43 extend rearwardly from. their pivots 44 to a point in close proximity to the front end of the shoe 12 and they gradually converge in the direction of the shoe. The sweeps 43 are yieldingl'yheld in contact with the ground by springs 45 which are mounted on rods 46 between the horizontal member 31 of the support 30 and collars 47 carried by the rods which are pivoted at their lower ends as at 48 to the sweeps and the upper ends of which pass freely through openings in the horizontal member 31 of the support 30. Resilient sweeps 49 of arcuate formation and arranged one above the other, extend forwardly and rearwardly beyond the cutter '17 and spiked wheel 40, and have their front ends secured to the inner side of one of the runners-2 as shown at 50. The sweeps 49 are arranged one above the other and extend from the runner to which they are secured to the opposite side of the Ion itudinal center of the machine and have t eir rear free ends disposed in rear of the iked wheel 40. When the machine is in use t 6 shoe 12 will pass over the beet tops and position the cut-' ground and beet tops, the cutter 17 will sever both large and small beet tops. The sweeps 43 gather the beet tops into the path of the shoe 12, the spiked wheel 40 prevents the cutter 17 from becoming clogged, an

the sweeps 49 move the severed beet tops to one side of the row;

While I have described the principle of operation of the machine, together with the structure which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the invention as-claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A beet topping machine including a frame, drag bars extending longitudinally of and pivoted at their front ends to the frame, the front portions of said bars converging rearwardly and their rear portions being parallel. a shoe pivoted to and between the rear ends of the drag bars and provided in its lateral sides with ooves' for the reception of the rear ortions of the drag bars,

and a cutter earned by the shoe.

2. A beet topping machine including a frame, drag means pivoted to the frame, a shoe pivoted to the drag means, and having an arcuate under side, a cutter carried by the shoe, a vertical rod slidably supported by the frame and pivotall connected, to the shoe forwardly beyond t e pivotal connection of the shoe with the drag means, a

spring mounted on the rod and exerting a downward pressure on the shoe, a lever pivoted to the frame and connected to the rod,

means holding the lever against casual movement, and a cutter secured to the shoe.

3. A beet topping machine comprising a frame, a shoe, means connecting the shoe to the frame, a cutter, cutter carrying means pivoted to the shoe, and means carried by the shoe and extending above the frame and connected to the cutter carrying means to permit the cutter to be adjusted with respect to the shoe.

In testini'ony whereof I afiix my signature.

AMOS. J. SCRITOHFIELD. 

